# NTSB FTW94LA048: Aero Commander 100-180, N3718X, El Paso, TX, December 12, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 12, 1993, 09:24 local (16:24 UTC) - Place: El Paso, TX - Location: 31.7587° N, 106.4869° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of El Paso, TX, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7587&lon=-106.4869&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 1, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18976 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA048 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18976/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA048 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal - weather condition - turbulence,clear air (cause) - flight into known adverse weather - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING AN ENCOUNTER WITH SEVERE TURBULENCE AFTER CROSSING A RIDGELINE PERPENDICULAR TO HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 6500 FEET WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED THE TURBULENCE IN CLEAR AIR. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, BUT THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LAND UNEVENTFULLY. ## Factual narrative On December 12, 1993, at 0924 mountain standard time, an Aero Commander 100-180, N3718X, was substantially damaged following an encounter with severe turbulence while in cruise flight near El Paso, Texas. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the ferry flight. According to the pilot, he was in level flight at 6,500 feet while en route from Deming, New Mexico, to the Tradewinds Airport, near Amarillo, Texas, when he lost control of the airplane, approximately a half a mile after crossing a ridge line running perpendicular to his route of flight. The pilot further stated that he lost 250 feet of altitude during the encounter with clear air turbulence. After recovering, the pilot diverted to the El Paso International Airport, where an uneventful landing was made. Damage to the airplane included a cracked windshield, buckling to the leading edge of the right wing, and collapsing of the two inner ribs of the right wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3718X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3718X), registered now, S/N 5022, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 100-180 - Registry model: [Aero Commander 100-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-100-180) (registry code 0140208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5022 - Airframe hours: 1763 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360A2F 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Operator: Reed, James C. - Registered owner: J.C Aircraft Marketing Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 10, 1993, 5 hours before - Departed: DMN, DEMING, NM - Destination: TDW, AMARILLO, TX - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,044 total, 726 in this make and model, 2,044 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ELP, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19931212052609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931212052609A), Dec 12, 1993: Slinds 100180, El Paso, TX, Substantial damage. Encountered severe turbulence crossing a ridge line. Diverted to elp. Had cracked windshield. Buckled wing ribs. ## Other investigations on N3718X (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CEN16LA249](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA249), Jun 14, 2016: Aero Commander 100 180 (N3718X), Port Lavaca, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: Loss of engine power due to failure of a connecting rod. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.